The 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them... tested Him”
Consistently in Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New, God uses the faults, foibles, and failures of His “enemies” toward His own glory... This isn’t accidental! From the beginning, God uses, for example, the sin of Joseph’s brothers (in the story of Israel) in selling him into slavery as a means of saving the Jews from starvation. God uses Jezebel’s sin to reveal His power through Elijah. He uses Peter’s lack of self-restraint, Paul’s arrogance, and the obsessive power-seeking of the Pharisees and Sadducees in the same way.
Half of the questions Jesus answers are asked in bad faith. How many of us have come to the Lord to ask Him to heal someone or to help us in need after otherwise ignoring Him for days, months, or longer? Honestly, every single one of us comes to the Lord to ask forgiveness despite the fact that we have literally nothing to offer in exchange or even as an excuse for it...
The Lord gives generously to those who don’t deserve it. And THANK GOD He does!! I don’t deserve it! Not even a little bit!! St Paul reminds us that ALL things work to the good of those who Love the Lord. Whether or not the Pharisees asking the question were moved by Jesus’ words about loving God with our whole selves - we are moved by them!
Too often in the modern world, we tend to limit God by thinking that He can only work through “positive” outcomes that we think are good.
Take as a potent example our Pope! There are a lot of folks who strongly dislike Pope Francis. Some are so offended by him that they reason “God can’t work through such a man and so therefore he must not be the real pope.” Well, that’s absurd! If God can work through me or you, He can work through anyone! It may be 100% true that Pope Francis or Fr Bob or Sister Mary Matilda are bad teachers, bad disciples, bad everything. But it’s not for us to fret about! If Jesus is Lord (and He is!) then He will work through whatever broken instruments that He chooses. For the record, Pope Francis is absolutely the Pope. But more importantly, Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
As we’re in a bit of a slow season before the secular holidays and Advent begin in earnest, this seems like a great time to update everyone on our upcoming mausoleum project.
This month, we’ve managed to clear the last bureaucratic hurdles and we’re ready to get going on pre-sales for spaces in the mausoleum. Mr Joe Blanchard from the firm of American Cemetery Consultants will be traveling here to meet with me and to sign the final documents during the week of November 6. Hopefully, by that time we’ll have our formal licensure documents as a cemetery provider and Mr Blanchard will arrange for his specialists to stay here in Tallulah for several days and to meet with those interested in buying spaces in the mausoleum. They will be able to answer all questions and to formalize agreements.
Unfortunately, I’m not able to give any hard numbers for prices or much else at the moment. The bureaucratic drama took 3 long years to resolve, so the prices we discussed back then are going to have to be revisited.
I can say that we will be able to provide three types of interment for you and your loved ones. First, we’ll have places designed for two caskets. Second, we’ll have places designed for a single casket. And third, we’ll have “niches” (aka columbaria) which are for urns.
In Louisiana, about three-quarters of burials are by cremation. The Church does allow cremation provided that you have a reason to do so and that you attest that the act of cremation is not done to reject our belief in the resurrection of the body. Even so, all of us should be clear that cremated remains MUST BE INTERRED. You can’t keep mama on the mantelpiece indefinitely.
The initial pre-sales will be aided by ACC’s own financing options. Once ACC finishes their pre-sale phase and the mausoleum is built, then we will take over both the administration and the sales process. At that time, I’ll work together with our finance council and local banks to create a process for ongoing financing options and sales.
That said, as a small community, we are always going to be facing a certain scarcity of resources. I believe 100% that we will meet and exceed the pre-sales numbers we need to build the mausoleum, but I don’t know when, in the future, we’ll build additional structures. As such, I strongly recommend planning for and praying about your own final arrangements. I’ve created a thorough document (available in the office or via email) to help you pre-plan basically every aspect of your funeral and associated details. That document will be updated with details about our mausoleum offerings when that data becomes available.
Finally, we’re not limiting access to the mausoleum only to Catholics or to members of our community, but we are limiting it to people with a “direct connection” to the parish. That will be defined on a case-by-case basis by me and the mausoleum admin committee. If you have relatives, in-laws, or close friends who are interested in being interred here, please invite them to make inquiries to me.
Lots more info to come as we get it!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Thomas and Delia Trichell and for the healing for Tommy Trichell/B Hayes
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue 5:30p In memory of Kathleen Mills/Magoun
- Wed 9:00a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May Tomasso
- Thu 9:00a In memory of deceased members of the faith family of St Edward (Legacy Nursing & Rehab)
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Nettie and Phillip Scurria/family
- Sun 9:30a Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lectors | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28 5:30p | None Scheduled | A Farlow | N Ermst |
| 10/29 9:30a | Cooper and Maura | C Guizerix | None Scheduled |
| 11/4 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil | A Keene |
| 11/5 9:30a | Kathleen and Evelyn | J Howington | None Scheduled |
| 11/11 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | C VanderVieren |
| 11/12 9:30a | Chandler and Annie | M Lancaster | None Scheduled |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
- Nov 1 Holy Day of Obligation - Mass on TUE, OCT 31 5:30p and WED, NOV 1 9:00a
- Nov 3 First Friday devotions after 5:30p Mass
- Nov 4 First Saturday devotions after 9 a.m. Mass
- Nov 5 TIME CHANGE - FALL BACK an hour at 2 a.m. as Daylight Savings Time ends
- Nov 5 Parade of Saints
- Nov 19 Potluck Brunch for Fourth Quarter Social following Sunday Mass
- Nov 19 Angel Tree begins
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
PILGRIMAGE!... Fr Ryan is leading a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in Italy in September of 2024. More information is available at HolyTravels.org/FrHumphriesItaly . Please pass the word around!
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
WEDNESDAY is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. It’s ALL SAINTS DAY. We have Mass on Tuesday Evening (Halloween) at 5:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, November 1 at 9:00 a.m.
ALL SOUL’S DAY is not a holy day of obligation. Father will bless the cemeteries beginning with the old cemetery at 10 a.m.
FIRST FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Mass and devotions beginning at 5:30 p.m. in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
FIRST SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Mass and devotions beginning at 9:00 a.m. in honor of Our Lady of Fatima for peace in the world.
PARADE OF SAINTS…. will be on Sunday, November 5 as our young people dress the part and tell us about the saint that they have chosen for All Saints recognition.
POTLUCK BRUNCH …. to celebrate Thanksgiving and begin the Advent and Christmas season will be held on Sunday, November 19, following the Sunday Mass. Please mark your calendars and plan to join in this faith family activity. The Fourth Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) Social Committee consists of Skeeter and Blanche Wilks, and Louise Magoun as chairpersons with other committee members being Leslye Ellerbee, Jerry Ezell, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Sherry Lynn and Timmy Harris, Michael Lancaster, Billy and Ginny Marsh, William and Sharyn Marsh, Hannah McCartney, Sug Regan, Skipper and Christy Guizerix
ANGEL TREE... Our annual Angel Tree is getting ready to kick off at the beginning of Advent. Many, many thanks to Mrs. Dana Dukes for heading up the project. If anyone knows of families who may be in need, please let Fr. Ryan or Dana know as soon as possible.
NEXT SUNDAY….. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ends so remember to set your clocks BACK an hour on Saturday before you go to bed so that you will not drive up to church on Sunday and wonder why the parking lot looks “funny”!!!! A good reminder is “FALL Back an hour”.
Stewardship We fulfill the commandment to love our neighbor when we exercise good stewardship–joyfully sharing our gifts of life, abilities, and resources to meet our neighbor’s need.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| September Budget | $ 8,444 |
| September income | $ 6,442 |
| September Expenses | $ 11,006 |
| October Budget | $ 10,555 |
| October 22 Collection | $ 1,645 |
| October Income To Date | $ 6,608 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Elizabeth Naya (Oct 28), Don Wood (Nov 1), Billy Nadeau (Nov 2), Jason Trichell (Nov 5)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope Francis; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie and Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Cindy Mathieu (Wilks), Boyce Miller, John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Walter and Vivian Scott, George and Ann Shepherd, Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents , MaryBeth and Steve
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
